Mike Tyson’s Biting Fixation: Here’s Why He Kept Biting His Gloves During Jake Paul Fight, Explained
- Mike Tyson repeatedly bit his gloves during the fight with Jake Paul.
- Iron Mike admitted he has a “biting fixation” linked to his past behavior.
- Jake Paul defeated him because he was younger, faster, and more fit.
Mike Tyson, one of the most famous boxers of all time, returned to the ring at 58 years old for a big fight against Jake Paul, a 27-year-old social media star turned boxer. Fans were excited to see Iron Mike back, especially considering his legendary career.
But something strange started happening during the fight: Tyson was repeatedly seen biting his gloves. Yes, you read that right. The man who once bit an opponent’s ear in one of the most famous moments in boxing history was now biting his own gloves.
This odd behavior has all of us questioning why was Tyson doing this? Everyone couldn’t help but notice, and even Jake Paul, his opponent, called attention to the strange action.
Before we dive into the reasons behind Tyson’s glove-biting, let’s look at what actually happened in the fight. Tyson and Paul went head-to-head, but age and experience played a big role in the outcome.
Mike Tyson Couldn’t Stop Biting His Gloves During His Match With Jake Paul
If you watched the match, you probably noticed it. Mike Tyson, the former world heavyweight champion, who’s known for his power and fearlessness, was repeatedly seen chewing on the thumb of his left glove. It wasn’t just a quick nibble — he kept doing it, round after round.
At the start of the fight, Kid Dynamite looked like he might actually pull off a win. He landed a couple of solid punches and looked like he still had some of that old fire in him. But as the rounds went on, Tyson started to tire.
His punches became slower, and it was clear his age was catching up with him. Meanwhile, Jake Paul, who was younger, faster, and fresher, started to take control. And then came the glove-biting. Was Tyson trying to calm himself down? We’re not sure, but it became pretty obvious that Tyson was struggling in the later rounds, and the glove-biting didn’t help.
Here’s Why Mike Tyson Kept Biting His Gloves
After the fight, Tyson was asked by sports journalist Ariel Helwani about his strange behavior, and his answer was simple — “I have a biting fixation.” Yep, Tyson admitted it. He explained that this behavior wasn’t entirely new for him.
The bite on Holyfield’s ear in their 1997 fight, which led to Tyson’s disqualification and a huge fine, was a part of his past that he can’t shake off. Tyson has always been known for his intense personality, and his “bite” problem has become part of his legacy.
Tyson explained that he wasn’t trying to be aggressive or show some hidden message by biting his gloves. It’s just something he does. So, while it might have seemed odd, it was just Mike Tyson being Mike Tyson. He’s a complicated person, and this glove-biting habit is just another part of who he is — for better or worse.
How Jake Paul Took Down Mike Tyson in the Fight
If you thought a 58-year-old Tyson could take on a 27-year-old Jake Paul in a fair fight, you might need to rethink things. Tyson, despite being a legend, is well past his prime. He’s had a long career, a few stints in prison, and a lot of hard living.
Paul, on the other hand, is younger, faster, and has been in training for these types of fights. Tyson started strong in the first couple of rounds. He landed some punches that made Paul look a little worried.
But after that, Tyson began to slow down. His punches lacked the usual power, and he started looking more tired. Paul, though, took advantage of that. He didn’t need to do anything crazy. He just had to stay in control and avoid getting hit too hard by Tyson’s aging punches.
By the third round, Tyson was already showing signs of fatigue. Paul, who had no major injuries and was in his physical prime, kept his distance and let Tyson wear himself out. It became clear that Paul wasn’t in any real danger, and he simply coasted to a win. After the fight, Paul admitted that he could tell Tyson was slowing down. The Problem Child said (via USA Today):
There was (a) point where I was like, ‘He’s not really engaging back.’ I don’t know if he was tired or whatever, and I could just tell his age was showing a little bit.
Ouch. But it’s true. The simple reality is that youth won out this time. Paul didn’t do anything extraordinary — he just stayed calm and did what he needed to do to win. Tyson, despite his experience and his past, couldn’t keep up with someone nearly 30 years younger.
